Ischemic heart disease decisions — 2001

The veteran's service-connected heart disorder is rated at 60 percent disabling since March 1, 1999. The disability has manifested by more than one episode of acute congestive heart failure in the past year and left ventricular dysfunction with an ejection fraction of less than 30 percent.

The Board has granted service connection for coronary artery disease and a psychiatric disorder (specifically generalized anxiety disorder and major depressive disorder) as incurred during active military service. The claim for bilateral hearing loss remains pending.

The Board found that the cause of the veteran's death, cardiogenic shock due to coronary artery disease, was not caused or contributed substantially or materially by a service-connected disability. The appeal is denied.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including PTSD and COPD. The reasons were that there was no competent medical evidence of a diagnosis or etiology for PTSD, and the VA examinations did not find any current disabilities related to service.

The Board has remanded the case to the RO for further development and consideration of the veteran's claims for service connection due to a lack of supporting medical evidence.

The Board has determined that the veteran's PTSD is causally related to his VA coronary artery bypass surgery, and thus compensable under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151.

The veteran's widow is appealing for service connection for the cause of her husband's death and Dependency and Indemnity Compensation under the provisions of 38 U.S.C.A. § 1318. The case has been remanded due to incomplete records, including treatment records from a VA hospitalization where the veteran died.

The veteran's service-connected hypertensive heart disease, hypertension, renal insufficiency and nephrotic syndrome is rated at the maximum schedular rating of 100 percent.

The veteran died due to coronary artery disease and cervical stenosis, but his service-connected disabilities did not cause or contribute substantially to his death. The claim for eligibility to dependents' educational assistance (DEA) under Chapter 35 was also denied.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including VA examinations to determine the etiology of his claimed conditions and whether they are related to service.

The Board denied the appellant's claim of service connection for the cause of her husband's death, finding that his service-connected anxiety disorder did not substantially or materially contribute to his death.

The Board found that the veteran's coronary artery disease, hypertension, and diabetes mellitus were not incurred in or aggravated by service. The medical evidence did not support a finding that his PTSD contributed to his death.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for a compensable evaluation for his postoperative scar of the right lower quadrant abdominal abscess and determined that new and material evidence had not been presented to reopen his service connection claim for arteriosclerotic heart disease.

The Board has remanded the case for further proceedings due to new evidence submitted by the appellant's attorney, and because of changes in the law brought about by the Veterans Claims Assistance Act of 2000.

The Board has granted the veteran's claims of service connection for nicotine dependence, arteriosclerotic heart disease, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), all secondary to tobacco use in service.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence was submitted to reopen the claim of service connection for the cause of the veteran's death. The case is now being remanded for further development, including obtaining a medical opinion regarding whether ischemic heart disease due to beriberi in service contributed to the veteran's death.

The Board has determined that the veteran's atherosclerotic heart disease, which contributed to his death, was attributable to service-connected nicotine dependence.

The Board denied the veteran's claims of service connection for right knee disability, bilateral vision disability, and left hand deformity with a missing fifth finger. The appeals regarding entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss and coronary artery disease with hypertension were not reopened due to lack of new and material evidence.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for varicose veins, diabetes mellitus, and heart disease due to a lack of evidence showing these conditions were present in service or within one year after service.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a genitourinary disorder, stress, coronary artery bypass graft and abdominal aortic aneurysm repair. The decision is based on the lack of evidence supporting these conditions as being related to military service.